Study questions: Rousseau’s Social Contract

Study questions: Rousseau’s Social Contract

1. Both the Discourse and the Social Contract make much of the dangers of ‘convention’. How does Rousseau see that those dangers might be neutralized or overcome in the Social Contract?

2. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau all argue that the Social Contract/Covenant establishes a sovereign power. What are the differences? How does the varying conceptions of the ‘State of Nature’ affect those differences? Does the ‘General Will’ equal the ‘legislative power’ in Locke?

3. Rousseau says that that in society one loses natural liberty, but gains civil liberty. What does that mean?

4. Rousseau says man will attain freedom by submitting to the General Will. Many, famously Karl Popper, have argued that this is the same as, or will lead to  tyranny. What are the arguments on both sides?

5. What does Rousseau provide in the way of guidelines for discovering the General Will?  What institutions? would he approve of the American Constitution? He is famous for suggesting that democracy only possible in small states. What is his argument for that?

6. Rousseau says the ‘facts are not important’. Then why should one believe him?

Application 1: What help would you have from Rousseau in setting up an organization to provide homeless shelters? reorganize your hometown?

Application 2: What, using Rousseau, would justify making a curfew for all Columbia students at 10PM?